Drill press

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a drill press having a quill assembly, a drive shaft, and a support column fixed to a central lightweight cast housing through flanged collars. The top and bottom surfaces of the central housing are machined flat and parallel. The flange collar surfaces in contact with the top and bottom of the central housing are also machined flat and at right angles to the bore to mate with the machine surfaces of the case housing to thereby ensure precise alignment of the quill assembly, drive shaft and support column within the cast housing, and to provide an inexpensive way of replacing worn parts. The quill assembly has a longitudinal vertical bore in which the quill slides. A pressure screw abuts the quill to lock the same in any desired position. A positive drive is provided to the drive shaft by the use of a gear belt which is connected to a power source through a variable drive mechanism.

United States Patent inventors Andrew C. Lufl Patented Sept. 28, 19711,465,721 8/1923 Purves Primary Examiner-Francis S. l-lusarAttomey-Price, Heneveld, l-luizenga & Cooper ABSTRACT: This disclosurerelates to a drill press having a quill assembly, a drive shaft, and asupport column fixed to a central lightweight cast housing throughflanged collars. The top and bottom surfaces of the central housing aremachined flat and parallel. The flange collar surfaces in contact withthe DRILL PRESS cm 3 mm top and bottom of the central housing are alsomachined flat and at right angles to the bore to mate with the machinesur- U.8. Cl. 408/135, faces f h case h usin to thereby ensure precisealignment 9 2 of the quill assembly, drive shah and support columnwithin Int. th t h u in and to rovide an inexpensive way of replac- B23b47/00 ins wom pm Field 0 sal'dl 32, The has a longitudinal vertical hopein 28 the quill slides. A pressure screw abuts the quill to lock thesame in any desired position. References Cited A positive drive isprovided to the drive shaft by the use of a UNITED STATES PATENTS gearbelt which is connected to a power source through a vari- 506,865 10/1893 Stover et al 7 7 lj 62 able drive mechanism.

PATENTEU SEP2 8197i SHEET 1 OF 2 FIGJ.

INVENTOR$ 400.95% c. 41/ 44/01 .6. 8430: fr

anvaulfs DRILL PRESS This invention relates to a drill press. In one ofits aspects it relates to a drill press having a quill assembly fixed toa cast housing through a flange on the quill assembly, the flange havinga machined flat surface abutting a machined flat surface on the housing.

In another of its aspects the invention relates to a drill press havinga cast central housing supported on a central column which extendsthrough the casting by means of flanged collars having machined flatsurfaces which abut flat machined surfaces of the central housing toensure proper alignment of the housing with relation to the centralcolumn.

In another of its aspects the invention relates to a drill press havinga quill assembly with a quill within a longitudinal bore in a quillhousing wherein proper alignment of the quill within the quill housingis maintained by large contact areas between the two members.

In present drill presses, a central housing is supported by a supportcolumn. The central housing is machined to receive the support columnand to receive a quill housing. After extensive use of the drill press,the surfaces in contact wear, causing misalignment of the parts. Thismisalignment can only be corrected by casting a new housing andperforming new machining operations.

Bushings have been used on cast housings between the movable parts. Thebushings vary from part to part and do not provide positive methods ofaligning parts when the bushings have been replaced.

The quill assemblies conventionally employed comprise a hollow casthousing with multiple bearing lands with a quill in the housing held inposition by a split collar. The wear resulting from moving contactbetween the quill and the housing is uneven causing misalignment of thequill assembly.

By various aspects of this invention one or more of the following, orother, objects can be obtained.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved drill presswherein replacement of parts due to wearing between the central housingand the support column can be made inexpensively and effectively.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved drillpress wherein replacement of parts due to wearing between the quillhousing and the central housing can be made inexpensively andefiectively.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved drillpress which is inexpensive to construct, more durable in use, andinexpensive to maintain.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved drill pressin which various types, sizes, and kinds of quills can be utilized withminimum difficulty.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved drillpress with an improved quill assembly wherein wear takes place evenlyand misalignment of the quill within the quill housing is prevented.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved drillpress wherein there is a positive nonslip drive between the variabledrive and a drive shaft for the bit.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved drillpress wherein proper alignment between the support column, the drillhousing, the quill, and the drive shaft are ensured even when worn partsare replaced.

Other aspects, objects, and the several advantages of this invention areapparent to one skilled in the art from a study of this disclosure, thedrawings and the appended claims.

According to the invention there is provided a drill press having a mainhousing with a top wall, a bottom wall, and sidewalls. A support columnsupports the main housing. A quill assembly is supported by the mainhousing. A drive shaft is rotatably supported by the quill for rotationabout its longitudinal axis. The shaft is adapted to engage a chuck atthe bottom portion thereof. Means are provided on the main housing forsupplying rotative power to the drive shaft and the quill assembly hasmeans for imparting longitudinal reciprocation to the drive shaft. Themain housing has openings through which the support column extends andin which the quill assembly is positioned.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the quill assembly has aflange through which it is fixed to the main housing. The flange has anupper machined flat and preferably horizontal surface which contacts amachined flat and preferably horizontal surface on the bottom of thecentral housing to assure precise alignment between the central housingand the quill.

Further, the drive shaft is supported at its upper end by the centralhousing through a flanged collar. The flanged collar has an outwardlyextending flange with a machined flat and preferably horizontal lowersurface which contacts a machined flat and preferably horizontal uppersurface of the central housing to ensure proper alignment of the driveshaft within the quill housing and with respect to the central housing.

In another embodiment, the support column extends through a pair offlanged collars which are fixed to the central housing. A bottom flangedcollar has an outwardly extending flange with an upper flat machined andpreferably horizontal surface in contact with a lower flat machined andpreferably horizontal surface on the bottom of the central housing. Anupper flanged collar contains an outwardly extending flange having alower flat machined and preferably horizontal surface which abutsagainst an upper flat machined and preferably horizontal surface on thecentral housing.

In sill another embodiment of the invention, the quill assembly has anouter casting with a longitudinal vertical bore. A quill is supportedfor reciprocatory motion within the vertical bore. A lateral bore in thequill housing communicates with the vertical bore and contains anadjustable pressure screw which is adapted to lock the quill in adesired position. A rack and pinion actuates movement of the quillwithin the vertical bore.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a drill press according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view in section taken along lines 11-11ofFIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines III-Ill of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, a chuck 12 is supported by a drillassembly 14. A handle assembly 16 actuates movement of the chuckdownwardly as the chuck rotates about a vertical axis. A main drillhousing 18 supports the quill assembly and is in turn supported by acentral support column 24. A control plate 22 is provided in the frontface of the main drill housing to support controls for the power to themachine.

Positioned on the top of the main housing 18 is a speed adjustmentmechanism generally designated by the numeral 20. A drive shaft 26 isfixed to the chuck 12 and in turn is connected to a connecting rod 28The drive shaft 26 is rotatably supported within a quill 30 through abearing assembly 32 at the top portion thereof and by a bearing assembly34 at the bottom portion thereof.

The connecting rod 28 has a spline portion 36 which is longitudinallyslidable within a spline engaging drive mechanism 48. The connecting rod28 is supported for rotational and longitudinal movement in a bushing 38which is supported by a flanged collar 126 through bearing assemblies 40and 42. The bushing 38 is fixed to the spline engaging drive mechanism48 through an annular cylinder 44 and key 45. Bolts 50 hold the annularcylinder 44 onto the spline engaging drive mechanism 48. A gear beltpulley wheel 52 is fixed onto the spline engaging drive mechanism 48.Power is supplied to the gear belt pulley wheel through a gear belt 54which engages a gear belt pulley 56. Wheel member 58 supports gear beltpulley 56.

The gear belt 54 contains a plurality of teeth which engage indentationsin the gear belt pulley wheels 52 and 56. In this manner, a positivedrive is provided between gear belt pulley wheel 56 and gear belt pulleywheel 52. Therefore, there is no slippage between these two pulleywheels. A second wheel member 60 forms a pulley wheel with the wheelmember 58. Power is supplied to the wheel members 58 and 60 through adrivebelt 62. Power is supplied to the drivebelt 62 from a motor (notshown) and a second pulley wheel (not shown). Wheel member 58 is fixedon counter shaft 64 which in turn is rotatably supported on a flangedcollar 130 through bearings 66 and 68. The wheel member 60 engages thecounter shaft 64 through a longitudinal spline but is longitudinallyslidable on the counter shaft 64. Bearings 70 separate the rotatingwheel member 60 from a fixed top plate 72.

QUILL ASSEMBLY The quill assembly 14 comprises a quill-bearing housing74 having a horizontal bore 76, a vertical bore 78, and a lateralthreaded bore 80. The quill 30 reciprocates within the vertical bore.The quill assembly is fixed to the main drill housing 18 through ahorizontal flange 81. The flange 81 has an upper flat machine surface 82which abuts against a lower flat machined horizontal surface 122 of thedrill housing. In this manner, precise alignment of the quill bearinghousing 74 with respect to the main drill housing 18 is ensured.

The quill 30 has a conventional rack 84 on one side thereof whichengages a quill drive wheel 86. A handle hub 88 is fixed to the quilldrive wheel 86 to facilitate rotation of the quill drive wheel 86 abouta longitudinal axis. A spring assembly 90 is fixed to one end of thequill drive wheel 86 to rotatably bias the drive wheel 86 in a clockwisedirection as seen in FIG. 2.

The quill can be maintained in a given position within the quill-bearinghousing 74 by a threaded screw 92 having a bearing end 94 in contactwith the quill 30. An adjustment knob 94 is provided on the end of thethreaded screw to permit loosening or tightening of the pressure againstthe quill. The long bearing surface of the vertical bore 78 minimizeswear and prevents uneven wear between the quill 30 and the bore 78.

A flange 98 is fixed to the bottom of the quill 30. An O-ring 100 isfixed on the quill 30 between the bottom of the quillbearing housing 74and the flange 34. The O-ring therefore provides a stop for the quill toprevent the same from striking the quill-bearing housing 74 during thequill upward travel.

The downward movement of the quill relative to the housing is limited byan adjustable nut 104 on stop rod 102 which is fixed to the flange 98.The adjustable nut 104 strikes a stop member 106 as the quill movesdownwardly relative to the main housing. The stop member 106 is fixed tothe quill-bearing housing 74.

MAIN DRILL HOUSING The main drill housing 18 has openings 108 and 110 inthe bottom Wall, and openings 112, 114, and 116 in the top wall. Anopening 120 is provided in the backwall. Opening 116 is spacedvertically above opening 108 and opening 112 is spaced vertically aboveopening 110. The main drill housing 18 has a lower flat machined surface122 and an upper flat machined surface 124. These surfaces are parallelto each other and are horizontal in the final assembly.

Flanged collar 126 houses an upper extending flange with a flat machinebottom surface 128. The fiat machined bottom surface 128 isperpendicular to the axis of the collar 126 and would therefore beperpendicular to the axis of connecting rod 28 and drive shaft 26. Inthis manner, precise alignment of the drive shaft relative to the maindrill housing 18 can be easily established and maintained. The flatmachined surface 82 of the quill-bearing housing 74 will not lie flatlyagainst the lower flat machined surface 122 unless the quill housing 74and the flanged collar 126 lie in a direct vertical line.

With this assembly, different quill housings can be substituted withoutfear of misaligning the drive shaft 26. Further, worn parts can beeasily replaced without the necessity of replacing the entire main drillhousing. If wear occurs, for example at the quill bearing housing 74,this housing can be replaced without fear of changing the alignment ofthe drive shaft 26.

The counter shaft 64 is supported through a flanged collar 130 having anoutwardly extending flange with a flat machined bottom surface 132. Thiscounter shaft 64 is also maintained in a precise vertical alignmentrelative to the flat machined surface 124 due to the fact that the flatmachined bottom surface 132 is perpendicular to the axis of the collarand to the axis of the counter shaft 64.

The central support column 24 supports the main drill housing 18 throughflanged collars 134 and 138. Collar 134 has an outwardly extendingflange with a lower flat machined surface 135 which is perpendicular tothe axis of the collar 134 and therefore perpendicular to the axis ofthe central support column 24. Likewise, the flanged collar 138 has anoutwardly extending flange with a flat machined top surface 140 whichabuts against the flat machined lower surface 122 of the main drillhousing 18. The flat surface 140 is perpendicular to the axis of thecollar 138 and perpendicular to the axis of support column 24. The flatmachined bottom surface 132 of flanged collar 130 abuts against theupper flat machined surface 124 of the main drill housing 18. By thisarrangement of machined surfaces, positive and correct alignment of thesupport column with respect to the main drill housing 18 and withrespect to the drive shaft 26 is ensured. In other words, if supportcolumn 24 is vertically fixed, then the surfaces 122 and 124 of the maindrill housing 18 will be horizontal so long as the flat machined bottomsurface 136 of flanged collar 134 and the flat machined top surface 140of flanged collar 138 are flatly against the respective flat machinedsurfaces of the main drill housing 18. When this condition occurs, theflanges can be bolted to the drill housing through suitable means suchas bolts 142.

VARIABLE SPEED CONTROL The variable speed control 20 comprises a housinghaving a flat bottom surface 144 which abuts against the flat machinedtop surface 124 of the main drill housing 18. The speed control housingis bolted to the main drill housing through suitable bolts such as 164illustrated in FIG. 1.

A handle 146 is connected to a hub 148 which is fixed to cam wheel 150.A threaded holding rod 152 secures the cam wheel to the hub 148. The camwheel 150 has a cam surface 154 whose distance from the central axis ofthe cam wheel varies as illustrated by the dotted line in FIG. 1.

A cam follower 156 bears against the cam surface and is fixed to a pivotarm 158 pivotably supported by pivot pins 160 in the speed controlhousing. The pivot arm 158 has a bearing surface 162 which abuts againstthe top plates 72.

In operation, the space between the wheel members 58 and 60 determinethe tension in the drivebelt 62. For example, as the wheel member 60 ispermitted to move upwardly relative to wheel member 58, the drivebelt 62can move closer to the central rotational axis, thereby decreasing theradius of the pulley wheel. This permits more slack in the drivebelt 62and more slippage of the drivebelt 62 on the pulley wheels.

As the handle 146 rotates the cam wheel 150, the pivot arm 158 will bepermitted to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2,thereby raising bearing surface 162. This raising of the bearing surface162 permits the wheel member 60 to be raised to permit more slippage ofthe drivebelt 62 on the wheel members 58 and 60.

The support column 24 is fixed to the casting by a conventionaladjustable friction screw extending through the main housing 18 andcontacting the support column 24. In other words, the friction screwthreadably engages the drill press housing 18. When the screw isloosened, i.e., moved out of contact with the support column 24, thenthe main housing 18 is permitted to move upwardly or downwardly relativeto the support column 24. When the screw is tightened against thesupport column 24, the housing is held fixed relative to the supportcolumn 24.

By the invention, the main housing 18 for the drill press can be castout of a lightweight material such as aluminum or magnesium. Thelightweight metal casting can be easily machined because of its softnature. The flanged collars, on the other hand, can be made of a harder,more durable material. The

collars can be machined and then hardened. This construction thereforeprovides the maximum degree of wear (on the harder flanged collars) andthe ease of machining the large surfaces on the softer cast housing.When wear takes place on the flanged collars, they can be easilyreplaced with perfect alignment of the various parts.

It is seen that with the invention, the drive shaft can be maintained ina vertical line so long as the flanged collar machined surfaces areperpendicular to the axis of the collars and the flat machined surfacesof the main housing 18 are parallel.

Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope ofthe foregoing disclosure, the drawings, and the appended claims withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows.

1. In a drill press having:

a main housing with a top wall, a bottom wall, and sidewalls;

a support column supporting said main housing;

a quill assembly supported by said main housing;

a drive shaft rotatably supported by said quill assembly for rotationabout its longitudinal axis, said shaft adapted to engage a chuck at abottom portion thereof;

means for supplying rotative power to said drive shaft;

said quill assembly having means for imparting longitudinalreciprocation to said drive shaft;

the improvement which comprises:

said main housing being hollow and having at a front portion thereof anopening in said bottom wall;

said main housing bottom wall having a machined, flat surface, at leastadjacent said bottom wall opening;

a quill assembly having an outwardly extending flange member, a surfaceof said flange member being machined flat;

said quill assembly extending into said bottom wall opening with saidflat surface of said quill assembly flange being in contact with saidmachined flat surface of said main housing, and said quill flange memberbeing fixed to said housing, whereby precise alignment of said driveshaft and said quill assembly relative to said main housing are ensured;

an opening in said top wall vertically above said bottom wall opening;

a machined flat surface in said top wall, at least adjacent said topwall opening;

a flanged collar having a flat machined surface fixed in said top wallopening with said flat machined surface abutting said flat machinedsurface of said top wall;

said drive shaft extending through said top wall opening and throughsaid flanged collar; and

means in said flanged collar supporting said drive shaft for rotationabout a longitudinal axis and for longitudinal movement along saidlongitudinal axis, whereby precise alignment of said drive shaftrelative to said main housing can be ensured.

2. A drill press according to claim 1 wherein said machined flatsurfaces on said main housing bottom wall and top wall, on said quillflange members, and on said flanged collar are all parallel andperpendicular to the axis of said drive shaft.

3. A drill press according to claim 1 further comprising:

a second opening in said top wall main housing and a second opening insaid bottom wall main housing at a back portion thereof, said second topwall opening being vertically aligned with said second bottom wallopening;

a second flat machined surface on said main housing top wall, at leastadjacent said second top wall opening;

a second flanged collar fixed in said second top wall opening at saidmain housing back portion, said second flanged collar having anoutwardly extending flange larger than said opening and abutting againstsaid top wall;

a machined flat surface on said outwardly extending flange in contactwith said second machined flat surface on said main housing top wall;

a second machined flat surface on said main housing bottom wall, atleast adjacent said opening;

a third flanged collar fixed in said bottom wall opening at said mainhousing back portion, said third flanged collar having an outwardlyextending flange larger than said opening and abutting against saidbottom wall;

a machined flat surface on said outwardly extending flange of said thirdflanged collar in contact with said second machined flat upper surfaceon said main housing top wall;

said support column being mounted and extending through said first andsecond collars so that precise alignment of said support column relativeto said main housing, said drive shaft, and said quill assembly can beassured.

4. The drill press of claim 3 in which the machined flat surfaces onsaid housing walls are located on the outer surfaces of said walls andsaid flanged collars are located on the said outer surfaces with thesaid flanges thereof abutting against said outer surfaces.

5. The drill press of claim 4 in which the machined flat surfaces onsaid main housing top wall are located on a first common plane; themachined flat surfaces on said main housing bottom wall are located on asecond common plane parallel to said first common plane; and theopenings are located on axes perpendicular to said planes.

6. A drill press according to claim 1 wherein said quill assembly has ahousing with a vertical bore, a quill supported for reciprocatory motionwithin said vertical bore; and means to actuate reciprocatory motion ofsaid quill within said vertical bore.

7. A drill press according to claim 6 wherein said quill contains avertical rack; pinion means are provided in said housing to engage saidrack through which vertical actuation of said quill within said quillhousing can be effected.

8. In a drill press having:

a main housing with a top wall, a bottom wall, and sidewalls;

a support column supporting said main housing;

a quill assembly supported by said main housing;

a drive shaft rotatably supported by said quill assembly for rotationabout its longitudinal axis, said shaft adapted to engage a chuck at abottom portion thereof;

means for supplying rotative power to said drive shaft;

said quill assembly having means for imparting longitudinalreciprocation to said drive shaft;

the improvement which comprises:

said main housing being hollow and having at a front portion thereof anopening in said bottom wall;

said main housing bottom wall having a machined, flat surface, at leastadjacent said bottom wall opening;

a quill assembly having an outwardly extending flange member, a surfaceof said flange member being machined flat;

said quill assembly extending into said bottom wall opening with saidflat surface of said quill assembly flange being in contact with saidmachined flat surface of said main housing, and said quill flange memberbeing fixed to said housing, whereby precise alignment of said driveshaft and said quill assembly relative to said main housing are ensured;

said rotative power supply means comprising a counter shaft; a variabledrive speed control means imparting rotative motion to said countershaft; a first gear belt pulley fixed to said variable drive shaft; asecond gear belt pulley in rotatable engaging relationship with saiddrive shaft, and spaced laterally of said first gear belt pulley; and agear belt in operative relationship with said first and second gear beltpulleys to provide positive nonslip drive of said drive shaft.

9. In a drill press having:

a main housing with a top wall, a bottom wall, and sidewalls;

a support column supporting said main housing;

a quill assembly supported by said main housing;

a drive shaft rotatably supported by said quill assembly for rotationabout its longitudinal axis, said shaft adapted to engage a chuck at abottom portion thereof;

means on said main housing for supplying rotative power to said driveshaft;

said quill assembly having means for imparting longitudinalreciprocation to said drive shaft;

the improvement which comprises:

an opening in said top wall main housing and an opening in said bottomwall main housing at a back portion thereof, said top wall opening beingvertically aligned with said bottom wall opening;

a machined flat upper surface on said main housing top wall, at leastadjacent said opening;

a first flanged collar fixed in said top wall opening at said mainhousing back portion, said flanged collar having an outwardly extendingflange larger than said opening and abutting said top wall;

a machined flat surface on said outwardly extending flange in contactwith said machined flat upper surface: on said main housing top wall;

a machined flat surface on said main housing bottom wall,

at least adjacent said opening;

a second flanged collar fixed in said bottom wall opening at said mainhousing stack portion, said flanged collar having an outwardly extendingflange larger than said opening and abutting said bottom wall;

a machined flat surface on said outwardly extending flange in contactwith said machined flat surface on said main housing bottom wall;

said support column being mounted in and extending through said firstand second collars so that precise alignment of said support columnrelative to said main housing can be ensured.

10. In a support housing for a drill press, said housing having at leasta bottom wall and a top wall, a first and second opening extendingthrough said top wall; a third and fourth opening extending through saidbottom wall; said first opening being vertically aligned with said thirdopening and said second opening being vertically aligned with saidfourth opening; machined flat surfaces surrounding and immediatelyadjacent each of said openings; and flanged collar means fixed in eachof said openings, each of said collars having an outwardly extendingflange larger than said opening and a machined flat surface on saidflange abutting said machined flat surfaces surrounding eaeh of saidrespective openings in said collars are located.

1 1; A housing as defined in claim 10 in which the machined surfacessurrounding each of said openings are on the outer surfaces of saidhousing; and the machined surfaces surrounding the first and secondopenings are located on one plane and the surfaces surrounding the thirdand fourth openings are located on another plane parallel to said oneplane.

1. In a drill press having: a main housing with a top wall, a bottomwall, and sidewalls; a support column supporting said main housing; aquill assembly supported by said main housing; a drive shaft rotatablysupported by said quill assembly for rotation about its longitudinalaxis, said shaft adapted to engage a chuck at a bottom portion thereof;means for supplying rotative power to said drive shaft; said quillassembly having means for imparting longitudinal reciprocation to saiddrive shaft; the improvement which comprises: said main housing beinghollow and having at a front portion thereof an opening in said bottomwall; said main housing bottom wall having a machined, flat surface, atleast adjacent said bottom wall opening; a quill assembly having anoutwardly extending flange member, a surface of said flange member beingmachined flat; said quill assembly extending into said bottom wallopening with said flat surface of said quill assembly flange being incontact with said machined flat surface of said main housing, and saidquill flange member being fixed to said housing, whereby precisealignment of said drive shaft and said quill assembly relative to saidmain housing are ensured; an opening in said top wall vertically abovesaid bottom wall opening; a machined flat surface in said top wall, atleast adjacent said top wall opening; a flanged collar having a flatmachined surface fixed in said top wall opening with said flat machinedsurface abutting said flat machined surface of said top wall; said driveshaft extending through said top wall opening and through said flangedcollar; and means in said flanged collar supporting said drive shaft forrotation about a longitudinal axis and for longitudinal movement alongsaid longitudinal axis, whereby precise alignment of said drive shaftrelative to said main housing can be ensured.
 2. A drill press accordingto claim 1 wherein said machined flat surfaces on said main housingbottom wall and top wall, on said quill flange members, and on saidflanged collar are all parallel and perpendicular to the axis of saiddrive shaft.
 3. A drill press according to claim 1 further comprising: asecond opening in said top wall main housing and a second opening insaid bottom wall main housing at a back portion thereof, said second topwall opening being vertically aligned with said second bottom wallopening; a second flat machined surface on said main housing top wall,at least adjacent said second top wall opening; a second flanged collarfixed in said second top wall opening at said main housing back portion,said second flanged collar having an outwardly extending flange largerthan said opening and abutting against said top wall; a machined flatsurface on said outwardly extending flange in contact with said secondmachined flat surface on said main housing top wall; a second machinedflat surface on said main housing bottom wall, at least adjacent saidopening; a third flanged collar fixed in said bottom wall opening atsaid main housing back portion, said third flanged collar having anoutwardly extending flange larger than said opening and abutting againstsaid bottom wall; a machined flat surface on said outwardly extendingflange of said third flanged collar in contact with said second machinedflat upper surface on said main housing top wall; said support columnbeing mounted and extending through said first and second collars sothat precise alignment of said support column relative to said mainhousing, said drive shaft, and said quill assembly can be assured. 4.The drill press of claim 3 in which the machined flat surfaces on saidhousing walls are located on the outer surfaces of said walls and saidflanged collars are located on the said outer surfaces with the saidflanges thereof abutting against said outer surfaces.
 5. The drill pressof claim 4 in which the machined flat surfaces on said main housing topwall are located on a first common plane; the machined flat surfaces onsaid main housing bottom wall are located on a second common planeparallel to said first common plane; and the openings are located onaxes perpendicular to said planes.
 6. A drill press according to claim 1wherein said quill assembly has a housing with a vertical bore, a quillsupported for reciprocatory motion within said vertical bore; and meansto actuate reciprocatory motion of said quill within said vertical bore.7. A drill press according to claim 6 wherein said quill contains avertical rack; pinion means are provided in said housing to engage saidrack through which vertical actuation of said quill within said quillhousing can be effected.
 8. In a drill press having: a main housing witha top wall, a bottom wall, and sidewalls; a support column supportingsaid main housing; a quill assembly supported by said main housing; adrive shaft rotatably supported by said quill assembly for rotationabout its longitudinal axis, said shaft adapted To engage a chuck at abottom portion thereof; means for supplying rotative power to said driveshaft; said quill assembly having means for imparting longitudinalreciprocation to said drive shaft; the improvement which comprises: saidmain housing being hollow and having at a front portion thereof anopening in said bottom wall; said main housing bottom wall having amachined, flat surface, at least adjacent said bottom wall opening; aquill assembly having an outwardly extending flange member, a surface ofsaid flange member being machined flat; said quill assembly extendinginto said bottom wall opening with said flat surface of said quillassembly flange being in contact with said machined flat surface of saidmain housing, and said quill flange member being fixed to said housing,whereby precise alignment of said drive shaft and said quill assemblyrelative to said main housing are ensured; said rotative power supplymeans comprising a counter shaft; a variable drive speed control meansimparting rotative motion to said counter shaft; a first gear beltpulley fixed to said variable drive shaft; a second gear belt pulley inrotatable engaging relationship with said drive shaft, and spacedlaterally of said first gear belt pulley; and a gear belt in operativerelationship with said first and second gear belt pulleys to providepositive nonslip drive of said drive shaft.
 9. In a drill press having:a main housing with a top wall, a bottom wall, and sidewalls; a supportcolumn supporting said main housing; a quill assembly supported by saidmain housing; a drive shaft rotatably supported by said quill assemblyfor rotation about its longitudinal axis, said shaft adapted to engage achuck at a bottom portion thereof; means on said main housing forsupplying rotative power to said drive shaft; said quill assembly havingmeans for imparting longitudinal reciprocation to said drive shaft; theimprovement which comprises: an opening in said top wall main housingand an opening in said bottom wall main housing at a back portionthereof, said top wall opening being vertically aligned with said bottomwall opening; a machined flat upper surface on said main housing topwall, at least adjacent said opening; a first flanged collar fixed insaid top wall opening at said main housing back portion, said flangedcollar having an outwardly extending flange larger than said opening andabutting said top wall; a machined flat surface on said outwardlyextending flange in contact with said machined flat upper surface onsaid main housing top wall; a machined flat surface on said main housingbottom wall, at least adjacent said opening; a second flanged collarfixed in said bottom wall opening at said main housing stack portion,said flanged collar having an outwardly extending flange larger thansaid opening and abutting said bottom wall; a machined flat surface onsaid outwardly extending flange in contact with said machined flatsurface on said main housing bottom wall; said support column beingmounted in and extending through said first and second collars so thatprecise alignment of said support column relative to said main housingcan be ensured.
 10. In a support housing for a drill press, said housinghaving at least a bottom wall and a top wall, a first and second openingextending through said top wall; a third and fourth opening extendingthrough said bottom wall; said first opening being vertically alignedwith said third opening and said second opening being vertically alignedwith said fourth opening; machined flat surfaces surrounding andimmediately adjacent each of said openings; and flanged collar meansfixed in each of said openings, each of said collars having an outwardlyextending flange larger than said opening and a machined flat surface onsaid flange abutting said machined flat surfaces surrounding each ofsaid respective openings in said coLlars are located.
 11. A housing asdefined in claim 10 in which the machined surfaces surrounding each ofsaid openings are on the outer surfaces of said housing; and themachined surfaces surrounding the first and second openings are locatedon one plane and the surfaces surrounding the third and fourth openingsare located on another plane parallel to said one plane.